You Tell Me…. July 15, 2008

…Do The Bean and I favor slightly?

Me: age 4.                                         The Bean, this past weekend: age 3 years & 4 months.

      

How Do You Know? July 11, 2008

As I posted a few weeks ago, The Bean has transitioned to a toddler bed.  Although it was never a problem when she was in her crib, now we keep her bedroom door propped open while she drifts off.  For some reason, now she won’t stop crying if we close it before she goes to sleep.  Granted, she still isn’t able to open it by herself, but that was also the case when she was in her crib.  It’s just a mystery. 

Anyway, now that The Bean is not in her crib, we’re working on the whole “stay in your bed” routine.  She’s gotten to where she does pretty well most nights, but it never fails that she gets up at least 1- 3 times asking to go to the potty.  At first, we just took her and sent her right back to bed, because she always actually went once she got there. 

Lately, it’s started to look like she’s just asking in order to stall her bedtime.  For example, she goes to the potty right before going to her room.  T rocks her for about 10 minutes and puts her to bed.  Within 2 minutes of him heading out, she’s up and back in the living room asking me to go to the potty.  Last night, I just sent her straight back to bed, and she went.

Tonight, we had a repeat of last night.  Only she asked again for the potty 15 minutes later.  This time, I took her figuring that maybe she really did have to go since she asked again.  Sure enough, she had pooped in her pull-up. 

How do you know when it’s just a stall and when it’s not?  Just when I think she’s stalling, she’s really not.  I don’t want to reward her behavior if it’s not a real need.  But I don’t want her doing the pee dance if she really needs to go. 

Sigh.

I’m accepting any and all answers to this one, Folks.  Fire away!

Terrible….Three’s???? July 7, 2008

The Bean has always been a fairly laid back child.  When I say that, I by no means am implying that she has never had meltdowns or pitched fits.  We see our share of those around our house.  In fact, I have noticed that the frequency of fits and whining and lying down on the floor in public places has dramatically increased in the past couple of months. 

My theory is that The Bean has just hit the terrible two phase in her own timing.  We already know she marches to her own timetable.  Why should this be any different? 

So far, she seems to respond best when I don’t get excited about her fits or lying down in the middle of the floor wherever we are.  Luckily, she usually just lies down and doesn’t scream or flail while she’s on the floor.  Still, it’s not my idea of fun. 

Hopefully, this will soon pass.  Let me know if you have any tips to send my way!

A Glimmer? June 29, 2008

Unfortunately, T did not escape the virus unscathed.  His go-round with this lovely germ started Friday night.  Luckily, with the meds from my ER visit on Tuesday, we were able to get in a pre-emptive strike that seemed to decrease the severity of it for him.  He said he feels like he’s turned the corner on it and is just really weak. 

Hopefully, we are done with this. 

Hopefully….

The Bug Came Back June 26, 2008

The stomach bug that The Bean had last week returned with a vengeance to our house this week.  I started vomitting about 3am on Tuesday morning and could not stop.  T ended up taking me to the emergency room once he got The Bean off to daycare. 

The nurse practitioner there said that this virus going around has been light with the kids who get it, but is knocking adults flat.  Yeah, I can agree with that.  After some IV fluids and nausea meds, T was able to take me home where I promptly spent 30 of the next 36 hours asleep.  I’m slowly getting better, but still weak and dizzy. 

The nurse practitioner also said that for some reason, people who have this virus are coming back in with appedicitis shortly thereafter.  I was given strick instructions to show back up if I start having right flank pain. 

We’re praying that T doesn’t catch this.  He’s been using the other bathroom and sleeping in the living room.  So far, he seems to be avoiding it.  I’d appreciate prayers for healing and for protection for T from this bug.  It’s a doozy.

Feeling Better June 20, 2008

The Bean is feeling better.  Her fever seems to have run its course, and she has eaten a little bit today.  I think we’re on the up-swing!  Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes!

We have now entered the lovely period of getting back into our bedtime routine. 

Like everyone, The Bean doesn’t sleep well when she’s sick, and we usually do some extra cuddling and rocking and sitting with her whenever she’s sick.  When she starts to feel better, she, of course, feels Mommy and Daddy should continue sitting with her for 2 hours every night until she goes to sleep. 

I will continue our night time rocking and snuggling before bed until she’s 20 if she lets me, but as much as I love my Sweet Bean, I just cannot sit with her for hours on end at night.  It’s not good for me or for her.  She has to learn to soothe herself to sleep.  The first few nights after she’s been sick are very difficult as we work to re-establish The Bean’s night time routine. 

Sigh.

We’re starting to get there, but so far, it’s not been pretty. 

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mamaw & Papaw! June 19, 2008

This past weekend, we headed back to our hometown to join T’s sister and brother-in-law and numerous other friends and family members in surprising T’s parents with a 40th anniversary party.  T’s sister has been planning this since last year, and I’m thrilled to report that Mamaw and Papaw were definitely surprised. 

The plan was for them to think that they were only going out for a celebratory lunch with T’s sister and brother-in-law and niece.  The first surprise was that they would be taken to lunch in a limo!  The second surprise was that T, The Bean, and I were waiting for them in the limo when the door was opened.  Since we live a 7 hour drive away, our visits back home aren’t run of the mill, and the fact that we were there was a treat for us and for them. 

Here’s a picture of them when the door was opened to reveal The Bean sitting in her car seat.

I couldn’t get around fast enough to get a clear shot of Mamaw’s face since we nearly forgot to have the camera out to catch their expressions until it was too late!  But if you look through the window, you can kind of see her face too.  T’s mom said her first thought upon seeing The Bean was “that baby looks just like The Bean!”  She quickly peeked in the car to see if we were in there too to confirm to herself that it really was The Bean in person!

Here they are in the limo on the way to Red Lobster for lunch.

After lunch, we all used the “girls-need-to-lie-down-for-a-nap-just-ride-around-in-the-limo-for-a-little-while” excuse to keep them occupied until the driver would drop them off at the surprise reception T’s sister had planned a little later.  The girls did get naps, but we also used the time to finish setting up before T’s parent’s arrival.

They were surprised again to see so many friends and family waiting for them when they were dropped off at the reception site.

 

Here’s the whole immediate family at the reception. 

It was a lot of fun, and we were so happy to honor such a special anniversary milestone. 

If you look closely at the table decorations, you’ll notice a small, metal, heart-shaped basket on the table.  The baskets were filled with red hots which The Bean discovered are quite tasty.  Every time I looked up, she was scoping out which table had a chair positioned close enough for her to reach the red hot basket on each table.  She ate so many that she threw up when we got back to the house a couple of hours later.  We’ll see if she still wants them the next time she has a chance to have them again!

Hats off to T’s sister, K, for spear heading the whole thing and doing so much work to make it happen.  Other family members definitely contributed as well to make it a special day! 

Congratulations, Mamaw and Papaw on 40 years of marriage.  Thanks for being such a blessing and a wonderful example!

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night June 19, 2008

After The Bean finally went to sleep last night amidst the thuderstorm, I was hoping she’d get some good rest. 

It was not to be. 

The looming vomitting commenced about 3:30 this morning followed by a second round about 4:15. 

This morning, she is still running fever but has not vomited anymore.  Currently, she’s watching Nick Jr. and drinking some diluted white grape juice.  She’s doing well at taking in fluids but has only eaten a handful of chex cereal.  That’s okay since the fluids are probably more important at this point.  Her appetite will return when she feels better. 

I’ll head to work this evening when T gets home, and he’ll stay  home with her tomorrow while I put in a long day.  Between tonight’s hours and the long day I’m planning to put in tomorrow, I should still get all my hours in at work.  Most of the time, I get more accomplished in the evenings at work anyway since people don’t expect me to be there, and the phone is not ringing constantly. 

Hopefully, the vomitting is over, and the fever will be gone soon.  Keep her in your prayers!

A Small Bump In The Road June 19, 2008

I am working on getting back into my posting routine and had planned to do a Works For Me Wednesday post today.  However, The Bean was exceptionally clingy when I picked her up from daycare today and started running fever shortly after we made it home.  She’s been complaining of her tummy hurting and saying she has to “spit up” but hasn’t yet vomited.  I’ve spent most of the night attempting to comfort her.  T and I swapped out sitting with her tonight until she fell asleep which finally occurred less than an hour ago. 

Due to this lovely development, my currently fuzzy brain is not quite up to putting together my planned post.  I had not yet had the chance to type it ahead of time this week.  So instead of a Works For Me Wednesday post, you lovely people get treated to my rambling on about The Bean needing to vomit. 

I’m sure you’re thrilled. 

Hopefully, she’ll be feeling better in the morning.  If you want, you can still head over to view this week’s Works For Me Wednesday Mr. Linky and revel in all the great ideas out there.

The Bean Is Growing Up June 17, 2008

Well, as of last night, The Bean is officially out of her crib and in a toddler bed.  T’s parent’s, AKA Mamaw and Papaw, found a nice toddler bed frame at a yard sale a couple of months ago.  Since we were in town visiting them this past weekend, we were able to bring it home with us. 

Last night, the three of us put it together.  The Bean was so cute taking the screwdriver and trying to help tighten things up.  After it was all together, she helped me clean it.  We took it back to her room and arranged her covers and pillow on it, and she practiced lying in it. 

When it was bedtime, we did have to sit with her for a while to remind her to stay in her bed and just give her some security since she now didn’t have a big bed all around her.  But she finally settled in and drifted off to sleep. 

After she was asleep, I went into her room and watched her for a bit.  Lately, it’s really hitting me how fast she’s growing.  I know my days of rocking her are quickly passing, and I don’t want to miss a one.  There are nights when I’m so exhausted, but I try to remind myself not to pass up on these moments.  I never regret putting aside my weariness and spending a little time listening to her chatter or giving her butterfly kisses while she giggles. 

I know I’ll blink, and she’ll be off to college.  But she’ll always be My Sweet Bean.